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3 arrested for killing PPP supporter
Campaigning ends on a bloody note; four dead
No complaints on code violation, says State Election Commission
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Nawanshahr police books Honey Singh
Preneet, Raninder make up for Capt’s
absence in Patiala
Education takes a back seat as teachers head for election duty
85% booths declared sensitive in Bathinda
SAD infighting to fore in Tarn Taran
In Ludhiana, focus on ‘nukkad’ meetings
polldigest
Despite Takht edict, SGPC member visits dera
Girls outshine boys in ICSE, ISC exams
HC takes note of special examinees’ plight
Rail passengers robbed on board
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3 arrested for killing PPP supporter
Bathinda, May 17 Speaking to mediapersons here, Inspector General (Bathinda zone) Nirmal Singh Dhillon said none of the accused belonged to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), as alleged by the Congress and PPP leaders. The police said PPP leader Lakha Sidhana, who survived with injuries, was the target. It said the conspiracy was hatched in the District Jail here allegedly by Gurtej Singh Nambardar, already behind bars for attacking Lakha once earlier. Gurtej used to be a member of Lakha’s gang, but had parted ways with him over some issue. Among those arrested are Karamjit Singh alias Kamma of Mehraj village, Jaswant Singh of Sidhana village and Gurtej Singh, who was arrested after obtaining a production warrant from a local court. Kamma and Jaswant were nabbed from Mansa district. Insisting the attack on Lakha was out of personal enmity, Dhillon said a few of the accused were “staunch Congress supporters”. He said the mastermind had specially chosen an election rally for the attack to avoid suspicion. The other assailants had been identified as Jagseer Singh alias Seera, Dhimri (Seera’s brother), Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha, Tirath Dhilwan and Gurjeet Singh. Dhillon said the police had gathered enough evidence against Gurtej Singh in form of call details as he was illegally using a mobile phone from inside the jail. He said a separate investigation was being conducted into the matter. The police officer said a special investigation team led by Deputy Inspector General AS Chahal and Senior Superintendent of Police Ravcharan Singh Brar had cracked the case within 24 hours. On the allegations levelled by PPP president Manpreet Badal that Akali workers were behind the firing, Brar said he (Manpreet) had concluded the investigation even before the police could start it. Dhillon also refuted the allegations that the police was a puppet in the hands of SAD leaders. “The police is not a tool in anybody’s hands. Though Lakha has several cases pending against him, he is an aggrieved party in this case and justice will be delivered to him,” he said. The Inspector General said the attack was an episode of a gang war between the Lakha and Seera groups.
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Campaigning ends on a bloody note; four dead
Chandigarh, May 17 The SAD-BJP alliance claimed it was set for a “massive victory” with Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president and Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia claiming the Congress would be “decimated” in the rural areas. Pradesh Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa claimed the party would not give up its fight against “political terrorism” launched by the SAD during campaigning. He came down heavily on the State Election Commission and the police for “failing” to control “naked acts of violence by the Akali cadre”. State Election Commission er Shivinder Brar, when contacted, said unsubstantiated charges were being made against his office. He said he had received a report from the SSP, Amritsar, stating that a Congress worker and an Akali worker had been killed in a clash triggered by a personal feud. Brar said that contrary to Congress allegations, there was no large-scale rejection of nomination papers. Only 127 of the 1,321 papers received for the parishad elections were rejected. Similarly, no one was “forced” to withdraw his or her candidature, as was being alleged. He said only 404 candidates for the zila parishad poll withdrew their papers. Among them, 331 had filed their nominations as covering candidates. Meanwhile, 30 persons in fray for the zila parishad poll and 338 contesting the panchayat samiti poll have been elected unopposed. The election campaign witnessed several instances of violence. Jaspreet Singh Jassa, an aide of a PPP leader, was killed in a shootout at a joint PPP-Congress rally in Adampur on May 16. Congress worker Rajwinder Singh was injured in the incident. On May 8 Youth Congress activist Sukhraj Singh was killed in Tarn Taran. On May 7, the personal assistant of Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Guruharsahai legislator, was hurt in a fierce attack. Media adviser to the Chief Minister, Harcharan Bains, claimed that most deaths had occurred because of personal fueds and that prompt action had been taken in all such cases. He blamed the “culture of violence” on provocative speeches by political leaders. Sources said the elections to Panchayati Raj institutions were being fiercely contested by the SAD because it wanted to build up its base in rural areas in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.The SAD was especially keen on doing well in the Malwa region. Revenue Minister Majithia claimed that after SAD's good showing in the SGPC and assembly elections, “ we are certain that our good performance in the zila parishad and samiti elections will have a spillover effect on the parliamentary elections.” Partap Singh Bajwa, PPCC chief, claimed the Akalis had unleashed a reign of terror on the people. This was being done deliberately to intimidate them on the eve of parliamentary elections.
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No complaints on code violation, says State Election Commission
Chandigarh, May 17 However, it had registered 57 “requests” for adding names missing from the voters' list and for “correcting doubts” on fake voters. ML Sharma, secretary, State Election Commission, said: “Our office has received routine applications and all have been duly addressed. We have not received a complaint against any candidate or the official machinery”. When contacted, Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa said they had decided not to lodge any complaint with the commission that had "turned a blind eye to goof-up in the election procedure”. State Election Commissioner SS Brar maintained that decisions had been taken on the basis of the feedback from official quarters of the districts concerned. "No abnormal election activity has been detected anywhere. As far as cases of violence are concerned, these are criminal cases and will to be looked into by the police.” The Congress and the People's Party of Punjab (PPP) have been crying hoarse over the need for security on streets in the wake of "threats" issued to the Opposition by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) goons. A delegation led by Bajwa met the Governor, seeking that paramilitary forces be deployed during the
elections. “The Governor said he needed a recommendation from the State Election Commission in this regard. Since the latter made no such request, no forces have been summoned for the poll,” said Bajwa. There had been reports that several residents had not deposited their licensed weapons with the police, Bajwa said. "We have verified reports that those keeping arms are mostly SAD supporters." The Election Commission has not allowed videography of polling stations and counting centres despite requests by the Opposition. “We have clear High Court orders that no videography can be carried inside the polling stations,” the Election commissioner said.
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Nawanshahr police books Honey Singh
Asked when Honey Singh would be arrested, Dhanpreet Kaur, Senior Superintendent of Police, Nawanshahr, simply said investigations against the singer had been started. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had pulled up the state government for not acting against the singer for rendering songs with lewd lyrics such as “Main balatkari hoon (I am a rapist). Ravinder Singh Kitna of HOPE, a non-government organisation that had filed a petition in the High Court in this regard, called it a “victory of activists who had raised their voice against such singers.”
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Preneet, Raninder make up for Capt’s
absence in Patiala
Patiala, May 17 Raninder appeared leaving no stone unturned while trying to infuse confidence in the party cadre. He had lost the assembly elections from Samana to Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. “The National Rifle Association of India working kept me busy in Delhi, but I was in constant touch with the local leaders in the constituency,” he said. Lashing out at the Akalis, he said: “You voted for them (SAD-BJP) but what did you get in return? Theirs is a government of liars. So, get ready to teach them a lesson on May 19 (polling day).” The next to target the ruling coalition was Preneet Kaur: “We will take the Akalis head-on and make sure they are not able to succeed in their evil designs to win the elections by rigging.” At some distance from the Congress rally, Rakhra quipped that voters in his constituency would not even recognise the Congress leaders “who only turn up on poll eve”. “I have been working round the clock and despite my engagements as a Cabinet Minister, I make it a point to attend each and every person from Samana on a priority.”
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Education takes a back seat as teachers head for election duty
Patiala, May 17 With very few teachers left to take classes, the school heads have been finding it difficult to run the show. As such, they have had either to merge two-three classes to engage all the students or send them back home. A random visit to the city schools showed that most of the students had been sitting idle since there were no teachers. At some places, teachers had combined two-three classes and had engaged the students in chit chat sessions as it was difficult to teach students from different classes together. A teacher said they were helpless as officially they could not ask the students to go back home. A principal said the district administration should have ensured that at least 50 per cent of the staff was in school to ensure studies were not affected. “There are several schools where the strength is more than 1,500 and there was hardly 10 to 20 per cent staff availability today. These duties will continue tomorrow (May 18) as well. The government should rather have declared it a holiday,” he said. Sources in the Education Department said there were six middle schools in the district, including one each in Ghagga and Pasiana, where 100 per cent of the staff was on poll duty. District Education Officer (Secondary) Balbir Kaur Gill said as the duties were unavoidable, she had made alternate arrangements to ensure that schools remained open. “There is staff shortage, but we are trying our best to ensure studies are not affected,” she said. Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said there was no alternative as far as deputing teachers on election duty was concerned. But, he said, he had directed education officials to open the schools and engage students by organising competitions or seminars.
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85% booths declared sensitive in Bathinda
Bathinda, May 17 Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said an additional force of 4,500 police personnel from the Reserve Police Battalions had already been requisitioned keeping in mind the sensitivity of the elections in the district. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka challenged the Congress and the PPP leaders to get yesterday’s firing in Adampura investigated by any agency to prove involvement of any Akali leader or worker in the attack on PPP leader Lakhbir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana. Addressing a press conference here today, he said Akali Dal does not resort to politics of violence, which was the main tool of the Congress and Manpreet Badal-led PPP. He questioned the credentials of Manpreet Badal and his party by asking him how a man booked in 11 cases of violence, including attempt to murder, was a leader of the People’s Party of Punjab. He said he would resign from politics if his involvement was established in the firing incident or else the Congress and PPP leaders should resign. Manpreet Badal, who could not be contacted today, had said yesterday that Lakha and several other leaders of his party were falsely implicated. On Manpreet’s claim that even he could be killed, Maluka said Manpreet had already “died politically”. Gurpreet Kangar, vice president, Pradesh Congress Committtee and in charge of the Malwa region, claimed the police had conspired with Akalis to take away his gunmen and weapons earlier this year. “I was falsely booked in a case due to which all my licensed weapons were confiscated and my arms licence was not renewed. But the police renewed the licence of some of the accused in the same FIR," said
Kangar.
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SAD infighting to fore in Tarn Taran
Tarn Taran, May 17 The infighting has its roots in the old rivalry between Tarn Taran MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu and SAD leader Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, nephew of SAD stalwart Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura. Sources said Sandhu has fielded his own candidates as Independents against the official party nominees from Kaironwal and Kot Dharam Chand Kalan zones of the district. He has fielded Sandeep Kaur against SAD candidate Harbans Kaur in Kaironwal and Manjeet Kaur against SAD candidate Ranjeet Kaur at Kot Dharam Chand Kalan zone. The Congress is not contesting from these zones. Sandhu is also reportedly campaigning for these Independents. Surprisingly, he is not alone in supporting them. Some SAD leaders who are getting elected unopposed to the zila parishad have also backed Sandhu’s move, contending that the official nominees in these zones have a “Congress backdrop” while the ones chosen by Sandhu were “Taksali Akalis”. Brahmpura and Pakhoke have been mincing no words in targeting Sandhu at rallies for opposing official SAD candidates.
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In Ludhiana, focus on ‘nukkad’ meetings
Ludhiana, May 17 In the zila parishad poll, the fight is between the Congress and the Akali Dal. Out of the 51 contestants in the fray, 25 are from the Akali Dal while 23 belong to the Congress. One each is from the CPM and the Rashtriya Teesra Front Party. In Mangat zone, an Independent is also in the fray. Of the 25 zila parishad zones, one zone — Manuke (reserved) — has gone to the Akali Dal as the SAD candidate has been elected unopposed. As many as five zila parishad zones in Ludhiana are reserved for women (general), four for SC (women) and six for SC candidates. The poll arithmetic, which may bring cheer to the ruling SAD, is that a majority of the 26 block samiti poll candidates elected unopposed are from the Akali Dal. In Sidhwan Bet area, 10 of the 14 candidates have been elected unopposed. For the 12 block samitis, 438 candidates are in fray. In areas like Kanech block, there have been instances of bickering between the local leaders of the ruling coalition partners Akali Dal and BJP over sharing of seats. Main issues While the poll plank of the Akalis has been development, the Congress is focusing on various issues, including corruption, nepotism and “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state. But for the electorate, what matters the most are local issues that are village-centric or area-specific. The candidates of both the Congress and the Akali Dal, while focusing on nukkad meetings, have been banking on the party leaders' presence to shore up their popularity. Among the Akali leaders, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, PWD Minister Sharanjit Dhillon, MLAs Manpreet Singh Ayali, Darshan Singh Shivalik and former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha are campaigning for the party candidates. In the Congress camp, apart from Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Malkiat Singh Dakha and other leaders, the candidates' campaign has been revved up by the visit of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari.
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polldigest
Muktsar: Arms licence-holders are not willing to deposit their weapons with the police. In Muktsar district, not even half of them have done so. Of the nearly 18,000 licence-holders, only 8,000 have deposited their weapons. SSP Surjit Singh said, “We have appealed several times but to no avail.”
Cong workers refute Lalli Majithia’s charge Amritsar: Refuting the statement of Congress leader Sukhjinder Raj Singh alias Lalli Majithia, Congress candidates from Majitha, Sohian Kalan, Babewal Bhoma and Mattewal said on Friday that they had withdrawn their nomination papers of their own will. Contesting Lalli's statement, Baljit Kaur said: “No Akali worker ever threatened me. It was my own decision to quit the poll fray.”
1,673 cops to be deployed in Muktsar
Muktsar: As many as 1,673 police personnel have been deployed in all four blocks of the district (Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha and Lambi). “Two SPs have been deployed as supervisory officers and they have been given two blocks each. Each block will be further headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police,” said SSP Surjit Singh. He said of the 606 booths, 11 had been declared hypersensitive and 121 sensitive.
FIR against 17 for not joining election duty
Ropar: Deputy Commissioner PK Aggrawal has ordered registration of an FIR against 17 employees of different departments in the district for failing to report for poll duty. Aggrawal said 178 such employees were found absent on May 5 when a rehearsal for the elections was held. After being issued show-cause notices, 161 employees of them submitted their replies and joined the duty. The remaining absentees failed to respond, he said.
Stand up against Akalis, says Sangrur MP
Sangrur: Local MP Vijay Inder Singla has urged the state people to teach the SAD-BJP leaders a lesson in the zila parishad and block samiti elections for allegedly sheltering criminals. Singla said the ill-effects of criminalisation of politics, “introduced by the SAD-BJP regime”, were there for all to see.
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Despite Takht edict, SGPC member visits dera
Muktsar, May 17 There has been a tussle between a section of Sikhs and dera followers since 2007 when dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh made a public appearance donned in an attire similar to that of the Tenth Sikh Guru. In 2011, the Sikh high priests had awarded “tankhah” (punishment for religious misconduct) to Kauni for attending a dera event at Doda village. Kauni has secured the SAD ticket for Dera Sacha Sauda’s core committee member Lal Singh for the zila parishad elections from the Kauni zone in Muktsar district. Talking over the phone, he said: “The dera followers had invited me. Since it is election time, some Akali leaders accompanied me.” On the ticket secured for a dera follower, Kauni said: “Lal Singh is a SAD worker and there is nothing wrong in giving him the party ticket.” Some Congress leaders had also attended the dera function in Gidderbaha, he pointed out.
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Girls outshine boys in ICSE, ISC exams
Chandigarh, May 17 In the ISC Class XII exams too, girls outperformed boys. Of the total 838 students who took the exam in Punjab, 98.40 per cent girls and 95.25 per cent boys were successful.
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HC takes note of special examinees’ plight
Chandigarh, May 17 A statement to this effect was made before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a petition filed by the National Association for Blind. In its petition against the state of Punjab and other respondents filed through counsel Veena Kumari, the association had claimed additional benefits for the visually impaired or physically challenged aspiring to enter service of the state of Punjab. The petitioner had contended that fee exemption/concession, age relaxation, a scribe/amanuensis and extra time during written examination be provided “in terms of provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India”. In its reply, the state asserted that all the concessions claimed by the petitioner in the writ petition have been allowed by the state government. Taking on record the assertion, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain directed the state to publish the steps taken. “We appreciate the stand taken by the state government and are of the view that the decision taken be published so that the blind and disabled candidates are made to know about the concessions being provided to them so that they may avail the concessions as and when required,” it was stated. Before parting with the case, the Bench directed: “Let the exercise be done within 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order.” The development is significant as there are approximately 33,052 visually impaired children, 17,783 are hearing and speech impaired and 75,163 physically challenged. In February this year, a three-day Visually Impaired Conference concluded at Faridkot, where visually impaired people from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh accused government of violating their rights. It was alleged: “Under Section 33 of the Act, one per cent of the posts of teachers should be reserved for blind candidates. But the governments are denying appointments to the eligible visually impaired persons.”
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Rail passengers robbed on board
Patiala, May 17 They were rushed to Civil Hospital,
Rajpura.
Saini, who was under treatment at Rajindra Hospital, said he, along with his six companions, boarded the train from Phagwara. When the train crossed Ludhiana, two fellow passengers suddenly took out guns and started snatching cash and other valuables from the passengers. "While a few passengers gave away cash, mobile phones and other valuables to protect themselves, we refused to part with any money. Upon repeated refusal, they opened fire. They fired a few more shots and bullets hit me and a child. They later fled upon arrival at the Rajpura railway station," he said. Investigating officer (Railways) Satwant Singh said they had filed a case and a hunt was on to nab the accused. "All the injured are stable and we have rushed our teams to nab the robbers who got off the train before it reached Rajpura railway station," he added.
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Campaigning for the block samiti and zila parishad elections ended today on a bloody note with two persons killed in a clash near Lopoke in Amritsar district this morning.
With local MLA Capt Amarinder Singh opting to stay away from campaigning, his wife and MP Preneet Kaur and son Raninder Singh have been working hard to fill the void.
The mother-son duo went on a whirlwind tour of Samana constituency and addressed a series of rallies in support of Congress candidates.
Chandigarh, May 17
Winning the elections on her home turf would be crucial for the Union Minister (Preneet) as these would set the tone for next year’s parliamentary elections. 
